Insulating cover for electric-lamp sockets



P. A. Rossl 1,735,656

INSULATING COVER FOR ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKETS Nov. 12, 1929.

Filed May 51, 1928 IN VENTOR.

Ewe 62M Puma Nov. 12,1929

PATENT? OFFICE 2 not, A. aossnor CAMPBELL, OHIO ,IN'B'U'ILmG COVER FOR ELECTRIC-LAMP SOGKE'IB Application filed! 81,1828. Serial No. 281,903.

I The present invention relates to a cover of insulatm material for electric lamp sockets for eliminating shocks from short circuits when handling the socket in connecting the 3 lamp or other a pliancc thereto, the cover being constr'ucte so as to be conven ently associated with the socket for eihciently in sulating the same.

Another oh'ect of the invention is proto vide acover or electric sockets made up of sections, one being applied to each section or? the socket to provide for readily separating of the sections when repairing the socket without removing the cover,"

A further object of the invention is the provision of a centrally depending sleeve portion on the upper cover section to extend downwardly between the cord containing the electric wires and the upper portion of the electric socket for preventing a short circuit in case the insulation on the wires becomes worn, said depending sleeve also obviating the use of screws and the like for attaching the upper section of the socket to the cord, as sufiicient friction is obtained by insertingthe sleeve between the cord and the upper section.

A still further object of the invention is to extend the insulated cover to the portion of the electric socket to which a lamp shade is usually attached so as to insulate the lamp shade from the socket to prevent shocks in handling a lampshade attached to the socket.

l have for a further object of the invention to extend the lower edge of the upper cover section slightly over the upper edge oi? the lower cover section to assist in holding-the two socket sections together,

It is also an object of the invention to pro vide a device of the above indicated character, which is simple and substantial in corn struction, which can be manufactured economically, and which will be thoroughly eficient and practical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, .the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as

hereinafter described and claimed, being 6 understood that changes may he made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric socket as showing my improved insulating cover in section thereon and a lamp shade attached thereto, the socket having a portion thereoi broken away in order to illustrate the manner in which the cover extends into the upper end of the socket,

Figure .2 is an elevation oi the lower cover section, partly in section, and

Figure 3 is a similar view of the upper cover section. v

Referring to the drawings, the numeral. 10 designates the lower section of an electric socket, while the numeral 11 indicates the upper section thereof, the lower section being adapted to receive an electric lamp 1%, and lamp shade 13, and is provided with key 14 extending from one side thereof to open and close a circuit to the lamp. The upper section of the socket is connected to the lower section in the usual manner and is provided at its upper end with a depending tubular portion 15 through which extends the cord 16 containing the electric light wires.

In carrying out the invention, the lower cover section 18 embraces the lower socket section and conforms to the configuration ofthe outer shell thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the upper edge of said cover abutting against the lower edge of the upper socket section 11, at 19, while the lower edge extends slightly beyond the lower edge oi the lower socket section 10, as at 20. In one side of the cover section 18 is a slot 21 extending from the upper edge thereof downwardly to receive the key 14.

it is to be noted that the lower cover section till .18 extends between the lower section 10 of the socket and-the clamping band 22 of the lamp shade 13 so as to insulate the lamp shade 13 from the socket so that a short circuit will not be received by a person handling the lamp shade in case the socket is short circuited.

, Embracing the upper socket section 11 of the lamp socket is an upper cover section 23, the lower edge of which overlaps" the upper 10o g menace edge 19 of the lower cover section 18, as indicated by the numeral 24 in Figure l of the drawings. By extending the upper cover section slightly over the lower cover section, it can be seen that the cover will aid in holding the socket sections together. At the upper portion of the cover section 23 centrally thereof is a depending sleeve portion 25 which engages the interior surrace of the depending tubular portion 15 of'the lamp socket and the latter for insulating the cord 16 from the temp socket to prevent a short circuit in case the insulation material on the wires becomes worn due to use, thus preventing a contact be tween the lamp socket and the wires in the cord 16.

in operation, it can be seen that as the lower cover section 18 is arranged about the lower socket section 16', and the upper cover section 23 is arranged about the upper socket section 11, said sections may be separated in order to repair the lampsocket without the necessity of removing the cover sections, yet the upper cover section 28 extends slightly over the lower cover section 18 for aiding in retaining the socket sections together. By having the lower portion of the lower cover section 18 between the lamp shade and the lamp socket, it is apparent that the lamp shade is insulated from the socket so as to prevent current flowing from the socket to the lamp shade in case of a short circuit, By providing a slot 21 in the lower cover section 18 to receive the op-= crating key said cover section may be forced upon the lower socket section 10 by forcing the same upwardly on the lower socket section 10. The upper cover section 23 is forced on the lower cover section in a downward direction and the depending sleeve 25 of said upper cover section is forced down between the cord and lamp socket forming suficient friction to obviate the use of a screw, or the like, for attaching the socket to the cord. By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it can be seen that the portion of the socket which is the largest in diameter is at the point where the cover sections meet, so that it will be easy to force both the upper and lower cover sections on the socket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In combination with an electric lamp socket and cord connected thereto, of a cover for the socket adapted to engage about the exterior thereof, and a centrally inturned terminial sleeve on said cover gripping the said CO1 2. In combination with an electric lamp socket and cord connected thereto, of a cover for the socket adapted to engage about the exterior thereof, and a centrally inturned sleeve on said cover, said sleeve forming suflicient friction between the cord and sleeve for retaining the lamp socket on the cord.

PAUL A. ROSSI. 

